Expansible wedge type anchor



Get. 4, 1955 M LAYNE Q 2,719,747

EXPANSIBLE WEDGE TYPE ANCHOR Filed April 2, 1952 3 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR,

my 7 MZM filer/lays.

Oct. 4, 1955 M. B. LAYNE 2,719,747

EXPANSIBLE WEDGE TYPE ANCHOR Filed April 2, 1952 I L W 44 BY zhrzz igjgf m 74 v0 Oct. 4, 1955 M. B. LAYNE 2,719,747

EXPANSIBLE WEDGE TYPE ANCHOR I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2, 1952 HITTT'T Wyb - INVENTOR, Mark Ajay/2e.

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Uni e -Stew O 571274 I EXPANSIBLE' WEDGE TYPE ANCHOR v Mark B. Layne, Higgiusville, Mo. 7 Application April 2, 1952, Serial No. 286,084- claims.- (Cl. 294-89) This invention relates toimprovements in' expanding wedge-type anchors and particularly to'anchors suitable for engaging and supporting while handling or transporting heavy loads.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision a weight handling means comprising an insert having a frusto conical hole formed therethrough and fixed to the weight, and including anexpansible wedgetype anchor adapted to be contracted for insertion through to support any load not sufficiently heavy to rupture or break the material of theparts.

With these objectsin view as well asother objects which will appear during the course of the specification reference will be had to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line III" IIIofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 'is an elevational view of the grooved body member.

Fig. 5 is a Fig. 4.

in'the anchoring.

Fig. 7 is an elevationalview ofa split ringused in urging the wedges inwardly against the body member.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of the weight handling device constructed to handle extremely heavy loads.

Fig. 9 is fragmentary elevational view of the wedge-type anchor suitable for use with the modified form of. load handling device. I

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 9. i e

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line )G-XI of Fig. 10 and including the insert in which the anchor is inserted.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the unitary central portion of the modified form shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line X[II-XIII of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal cross line XIV-XIV of Fig. 9.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional 10 with some of the parts removed.

sectional view taken on view similar to Fig.

of an expanding'wedgef type anchor mounted in an insert which is shown 'in' plan view of the body n b shown Fig. 6 is an elevational view of adetached wedg'eused 2,119,747 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 Fig. 16-is a side elevational view ofone of the wedges detached.

"F i'gel'l. isan/ end view of the-wedge shown in Fig. 17.

Throughout the'several views of the drawings like nu meral indicates like parts and the numeral 10 indicates an insert having a hole 12 of substantially frusto conical shape formed therethrough. This insert may be welded to, molded into or otherwise fixed to the load 14, with the small end of the opening exposed to receive as ex-j panding wedge-type anchor for secure positioning therein. The outside surface of insert 10 may be of any convenient shape for proper attachment to the load 14 to be handled. It will be noted that the insert as shown in Fig. 1 is of frusto conical form While in Fig. 8 isofofiset cylindrical forni and in both instances the insert is molded into the load or work'to be handled. The opening ofthole' 12' may be of various cross-sectional shapes so long a's. it conforms to' the generally inwardly diverging side walls suitable for receiving the wedge faces of the expanding wedge-type anchor. The most common of the shapes would be principally of the regular polygons from a pentagon to a circle.

Referring now to the expanding wedge-type anchor as shownthe body member 16isof general cylindrical form circumferentially grooved at 18 and longitudinally grooved at 20 in'spaced apart relation to receive the wedge members 22. The inner surfaces of grooves 18 deter mirie a frusto conical surface on which the wedges'move as they are simultaneously urged outwardly by sleeve 24 having a planar surface 26 which is disposed at a right angle to' the axis of -the body me'inber 16 and adaptedto' contact the upper-end of each of said wedges. Body member 16 is centrally threaded at 28 to receive the threaded portion 30 of central bolt 32. This bolt S Zcarries sleeve'24 for sliding movement therealong and isprovided with a hexagonal head'34 by means of which the bolt may be rotated to adjust the wedges. -Thisflbolt head terminates in a ring eye 36suitable for receiving a crane hook for lifting the load. Positioned on'bo'lt 32 betweenhead 34 and sleeve 34 is a helicalspring 38 which normally compressed to move the wedges to their fully retracted position whereby they will be positioned as shown in Fig. 3 to pass through the small opening 40 of insert 10. To facilitate compression of spring 30 the sleeve 24 is grooved at 42 to provide'a finger grip whereby the operator may move the sleeve along belt 32.

Each of'the wedges is notched in like manner at toireceive a split'spring ring 46 which is normally under tension to always move wedges 22 inwardly against the ttom of: grooves 20 and to permit. the forced expansion of the wedges against the inner wall of insert 10. It will be noted that the outer corners 48"of e'ach wedge 22 is rounded to facilitate easy entrance of the anchor member into the smaller end opening of the hollow insert. The inner walls 50 of grooves 20 are outwardly inclinedto receive the inclined edge 52 of wedge 22 so that as the wedges are moved outwardly along grooves 30'they'will be moved radially so that their-outer edges 54 will rest snuggly against the frusto conical surface 56 of insert- 10. I tywill be noted that the substantially frusto conical surface of the recess in insert 10 needs to be made to conform to the expanded wedge type anchor member being receivedjthereto. The Figs. 9 to 10 inclusive are of a heavy load handling means wherein a unitary central structure 60 is used instead of the separate members 16 and 32. This member 60 comprises a body portion 62 having a head 64 preferably of cylindrically form mounted in a swivel member 0 66 for free rotary movement on bearing members 68, and

swinging movement on bale 70 of swivel member 66. The other end of body 62 terminates in an enlarged unitary structure-74 having uniformly spaced apart grooves 76 formed therein.

These grooves are formed to receive the wedges 22" which are of a general contour similar to wedges 22 in the preferred form.

These wedges are tapered as shown, to ride in grooves 76 and against the inner wall 78 thereof with their inner portions fitted snugly against the inner surface 80 of frusto conical insert 82.

The opposite side faces 84 are grooved at 86 in parallel relation with inner wall 78, to receive side ribs 88 which are rigidly fixed to opposite sides of wedge 22'. These ribs are loosely fitted into grooves 86 for free movement therealong.

This rib and groove structure serves to maintain the wedge and body member in proper operative relation as they are relatively adjusted.

Body portion 62 is reduced to form an annular groove at 92 and a shoulder 94. Mounted for sliding movement on the reduced groove portion is a split collar 96 built up of sections 98 joined together by screws 100. This collar is grooved at 99 to present a finger grip by means of which the compression spring 102 positioned in groove 92 between shoulder 94 and collar 96 is compressed. A ring member 104 joined to collar 98 by means of lift rods 106 form a cage for the wedges 22' by means of which they are raised and lowered in the grooves 76. Referring to Figs. 11 and 12 it will be noted that grooves 76 extend upwardly into groove 92 thus presenting space for a greater movement of the wedges in the grooves and a greater expansion and contraction of the wedges. The lift rods 106 are fixed at their outer ends by means of set screws 108. When the operator lifts collar 98 to substantially fully comprise spring 102 the lower portion of wedges 22' will be sufficiently contracted to move through the small frusto conical opening 110 of the insert 82 which is embedded in the load 14 to be lifted. The operation of this modified form is substantially identical with that of the preferred form with exception of the different means of holding the wedges in operative relation to the grooved body members. Both structures will engage and support loads to the ultimate strength of the operating parts, and when the wedges are mounted in the frusto conical opening passing through the insert the greater is the compression force exerted on the parts to secure them against slippage.

What I consider new and Patent is: v

1. A weight handling means comprising an insert fixed to the weight to be handled, and having a frusto conical hole formed therethrough, with the smaller end opening facing outwardly from said weight, an expansible wedgetype anchor manually contractable for insertion into the small end opening of said frusto conical hole and then automatically expandable to engage the inside walls of said insert.

2. A weight handling means comprising an insert member adapted to be fixed to a weight to be handled and having a frusto-conical recess formed therein, the smaller end of said recess opening outwardly from said weight,-an expansible wedge-type anchor manually contractable for insertion into the smaller end opening of said recess and expandable to engage the inner wall of said insert, resilient means normally urging said anchor to its expanded form, and manually operable means for contracting said anchor.

desire to protect by Letters 3. A weight handling means comprising an insert member adapted to be fixed to a weight to be handled and having a-frusto-conical recess formed therein, the smaller end of said recess opening outwardly from said weight, an expansible wedge-type anchor manually contractable for insertion into the smaller end opening of said recess and expandable to engage the inner wall of said insert, resilient means normally urging said anchor to its expanded form, manually operable means for contracting said anchor, and manually operable means whereby the maximum expansion of said anchor may be adjusted.

4. A weight handling means comprising an insert member adapted to be fixed to a weight to be handled and having a frusto-conical recess formed therein, the smaller end of said recess opening outwardly from said weight, an expansible wedge-type anchor comprising a cylindrical body member having a plurality of longitudinally extending like grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, said grooves being taperingly increased in depth toward one end of said body member, said body member being insertable into said recess through the smaller end thereof theshallower ends of said grooves then being disposed in the larger end of said. recess, and

a member carried for longitudinal sliding movement in.

each of said grooves and projecting outwardly from the surface of said body member, the outer edge of said, member being parallel to a generating line of said recess, said members being slidable toward the shallower ends of said grooves whereby the outer edges thereof engage the inner walls of said recess, and slidable toward, the deeper ends of said grooves whereby they are retracted to a diameter permitting the insertion or removal of said anchor through the smaller end of; said recess.

5. A weight handling means comprising an insert mem, ber adapted to be fixed to a weight to be handled and having a frusto-conical recess formed thereinp the smallerend of said recess opening outwardly from said weight,-an

expansible wedge-type anchor comprising a cylindrical body member having a plurality of longitudinally extending like grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, said grooves being taperingly increased in depth toward one end of said body member, the angle of thegrooves relative to the axis of body member being greater than the generating angle of said frusto-conical recess, said body memberbeing insertable into said recess through the smaller end thereof, the shallower ends of said grooves being disposed in the larger end .of saidrecess, and a tapered wedge disposed slidably in each of said grooves,

with its thinner end toward the shallow end of said groove, the angle between the inner and outer edges of said wedge being equal to the difference between the angle of taper of said groove and the generating angle of said recess,- 9

said wedges being slidable toward the shallower ends of said grooves whereby their outer edges engage the walls,

of said recess, and slidable toward :the deeper ends of said grooves whereby they are retracted to a diameter permitting insertion or removal of the anchor through the smaller end of the recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

